There are plenty of reasons to incorporate plain, lowfat Greek yogurt into your diet: Ounce-for-ounce it has more than twice as much protein as regular yogurt, with a fraction of the carbs and sugar. It is a good source of calcium and vitamin D, and a 6-ounce carton has the potassium equivalent of a banana. Greek yogurt is rich in probiotics and relatively low in lactose, making it suitable for some people with lactose intolerance.

Not everyone loves the tart and densely-creamy stuff, though, even dressed up with the typical parfait-style toppings like fresh fruit, nuts and granola. Fortunately, Greek yogurt is incredibly versatile, so here are 15 easy ways to use Greek yogurt - hopefully at least a few of these will make your taste buds happy, as well.

Greek yogurt has a delightfully tangy taste and a long list of health benefits.

Popsicles. Blend plain Greek yogurt with fruit (fresh or frozen). Add a bit of your sweetener of choice (optional), and experiment with add-ins like herbs and spices. Some of my favorites: Mango with chipotle. Blueberries with basil. Pineapple with cilantro. Or try nut butter with cocoa powder, or keep it simple with a little honey and cinnamon. Fill Popsicle molds with your creation, and you've got a low-sugar, protein-rich refreshing summertime treat. (Tip: Lowfat Greek yogurt tends to have a better texture when frozen, compared to fat-free).

Crème Brûlée. Greek yogurt can be used in place of the heavy cream. Really. Check out our low-carb, protein-rich (and delicious) recipe, below.

Cheese sauce. I had to try this one to believe it. But seriously, melt equal amounts of shredded reduced-fat cheese and plain Greek yogurt over low heat, and you've got a deliciously savory cheese sauce that's perfect paired with veggies, grilled fish, or a low-carb side dish like whipped cauliflower.

Soup. Add a creamy consistency with a few spoonfuls of plain Greek yogurt. Just wait until the soup is removed from the heat, to avoid curdling.

Deviled eggs. Super simple: just use Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise in your favorite deviled egg recipe, for fewer calories, less fat, and more protein.

Dips. This is incredibly easy, and the options are limitless. Use plain Greek yogurt (I prefer the texture of lowfat yogurt in dips, not fat-free) in place of mayo and/or sour cream in your favorite savory dip recipes. Think spinach dip, crawfish dip, even plain old ranch dip. Promise, no one will even know the difference.

Sour cream swap-out. Use a dollop of Greek yogurt to top lean chili, tacos, or a taco salad. Same tart creaminess, for a fraction of the calories.

Chicken salad. Or tuna salad, egg, salad, whole wheat pasta salad, you name it. And check out our recipe below for a lower-calorie version of Whole Foods' delicious Sonoma Chicken Salad, made with Greek yogurt in place of mayo.

Salad dressing. This is another you-really-can't-mess-it-up idea: Simply blend plain Greek yogurt, a bit of milk, and herbs of spices of choice, and you've got a low-cal flavor-packed homemade salad dressing. One variation that I really love: Greek yogurt, minced garlic, cilantro, and a splash each of olive oil and milk. We've got a recipe for a refreshing cucumber Greek yogurt dressing, below.

Party platter with fresh fruit. My husband's cousin, Ashley Fury, often serves up a dip for fresh fruit that's oh-so-simple and oh-so-delish: lowfat Greek yogurt and sweetener of choice, blended with a dab of vanilla extract and nut butter until whipped and creamy. She sometimes adds reduced-fat cream cheese to make it a little richer and thicker. You can't mess it up.

Smoothies. See our Popsicle combos above, and repeat for a smoothie that's perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up for a breakfast on the run. Think of Greek yogurt as your protein-powder replacer.

Butter substitute. Use plain, low-fat Greek yogurt in place of half the amount of butter called for in a recipe. For example, instead of one cup of butter, use half a cup of butter and half a cup of Greek yogurt, and save 725 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat.

Oatmeal protein booster. It may seem weird to stir Greek yogurt into your oatmeal, but it'll add a tanginess, along with a hefty dose of protein and probiotics.

Add nut butter. Or powdered nut butter. Stirring in a spoonful of peanut butter, almond butter, or any one of the many nut butters now available can impact the taste and texture enough to make Greek yogurt palatable for even the strongest haters. And now powdered nut butters like PB2 are becoming more widely available, adding the same peanut-y flavor for about 75 percent fewer calories.

Add protein powder. It may seem odd - and it's certainly adding more protein to an already protein-rich product - but a lot of my friends and clients really love a scoop of their favorite protein powder (usually chocolate), stirred into a carton of lowfat Greek yogurt.